Chapter 62

Chapter 62

The summer heat lingered relentlessly, making the cool nights in the Nanqiao mountains a welcomed respite. In the old house nestled in the hills where they initially met, Qiu Li retrieved a watermelon chilled in the well, recreating a moment from their beginning in Nanqiao.

"Now, it's just the two of us left," Qiu Li whispered.

After leaving Ancheng, Zhao Yayuan's health noticeably improved. However, the medical examination at Nanbin Hospital couldn't pinpoint any specific ailments. The doctors attributed his weakness to long-term emotional suppression, excessive fatigue, and a fundamentally weak constitution.

Previously, Zhao Tingyuan facilitated their accommodation and meals at the Zhao residence. Now, there's no remaining evidence to trace back to, as everything has been handled by Su Qingyou.

They returned to the old mansion in Nanqiao, settling there for a while.

Qiu Li said, "Xiao Ya, in a few days, I might have to return to Ancheng..."

"Perhaps you should stay a bit longer in Nanqiao," Qiu Li suggested, "I genuinely worry about leaving you at your home."

Zhao Yayuan stared into the distance, his face still somewhat pale. This ordeal seemed to have matured him, stripping away his previous naivety and impulsivity. Sometimes, the transition from a boy to a man requires just a few pivotal moments.

"I will go with you," he said, "I've gotten much better."

A faint smile crossed his face, "Going back, there are some scores I'd like to settle with them."

Qiu Li glanced at him worriedly, hesitating before saying, "Nian Nian mentioned that she wants to meet us once we are back in Ancheng,"

Zhao Yayuan acknowledged, "Hmm."

Qiu Li continued, "Lu Zhihong has already left, and probably will never return to Ancheng... Nian Nian's wedding is estimated to be around autumn, at the latest."

Zhao Yayuan had become increasingly silent lately, his demeanor tinged with indifference, "Back then, he hid it very well."

His facade was impeccable, seemingly indifferent to Lu Nian, willing to graciously step aside. Little did anyone know, it was just a cover for years of deceit and manipulation.

"Mr. Qin has been very kind to Nian Nian," Qiu Li remarked.

"He has taught me a lot too," Qiu Li pursed her lips, "Xiao Ya, grandmother's medical expenses are going to be substantial in the future. I need to go back to work. Nian Nian only has me as a relative now."

"Xiao Ya, perhaps you should set aside your prejudices and collaborate with him," Qiu Li sighed slightly, "Especially if you truly want to reclaim your family assets."

Although Zhao Quan appeared robust, his advancing age was catching up with him, diminishing his vitality day by day, which prompted him to gradually relinquish his power.

Now was a critical juncture. Collaborating with Qin Si could potentially topple Su Qingyou and Zhao Tingyuan in one fell swoop. Hence, Qiu Li felt that there was no need to persist in their disputes.

Zhao Yayuan remained silent.

Suddenly, he stood up, "Once we return to Ancheng, I will confront them."

Naturally, Lu Nian was aware of the developments on Zhao Yayuan's end.

Knowing that his health was improving day by day brought her joy.

However, given Zhao Yayuan's unique position, she avoided bringing up these matters in front of Qin Si to prevent any discomfort.

He always believed that if he hadn't returned in time those years ago, forcibly ending her engagement, she and Zhao Yayuan probably would have become deeply in love, already embodying the perfect pair of mandarin ducks.

Lu Nian has actually been somewhat troubled all along, wondering how to unravel this knot in his heart.

Confessing her feelings, with words alone and no actions, might not have much of an impact. Overdoing it could even backfire, sounding cheap and perfunctory. Given his sensitive and suspicious nature, he would not believe her mere words without genuinely feeling it himself.

Therefore, Lu Nian simply told him that Qiuli would be returning in a few days.

Qin Si did not inquire further.

Both of them understood implicitly and did not bring up Zhao Yayuan.

Lu Nian's feelings towards Qiuli have become somewhat complicated nowadays.

She cares greatly for Qiuli, considering him truly as her family. But after what Lu Zhong said that day, she found herself troubled for a long time once she returned.

When her distress finally subsided, as she tried to recall the events in Nanqiao, her mind was completely blank, as if washed by water, truly unable to recall anything.

It seemed as if all of Lu Nian's emotions and memories had been thoroughly suppressed.

Now, what’s clearest in her mind are only the memories since she came into this body,

Everything about the original Lu Nian, the one who passed away at fourteen, was no longer present.

However, the bond she shares with Qiuli, nurtured through years of living together, is genuine; Lu Nian might not know how Qiuli feels, but she truly regards him as her kin.

In this world, Lu Nian feels incredibly isolated.

Even Lu Zhong did not intend to escalate the matter to this extent, if not for his repeated displays of utter indifference and lack of affection towards her.

"It doesn't matter if he refuses to acknowledge you," Qin Si said.

The man's features were calm and indifferent.

After all, he was there for her.

He had never had any family since childhood; just a few months after his birth, he was sent to the orphanage.

Lu Nian didn't need anyone else; having him was enough.

Lu Nian wrapped her arms around his slender waist and let out a small yawn, "You are different from him. Apart from love, people also have familial bonds and friendships."

But Qin Si genuinely didn't need any of that.

He didn't plan to have children after marriage; the times when it was just the two of them were when he felt most at ease.

However, he did not refute her, not wanting to dampen Lu Nian's spirits.

The official release of "Black and White" was drawing nearer and nearer, with the first batch of inventory already produced.

The time for the signing event was fast approaching, and the sales were planned to proceed both offline and online simultaneously. Therefore, Lu Nian had to first prepare five hundred signed copies. She was busy with this task when she received a very unexpected phone call.

It turns out to be Miaomiao.

The two of them don't reside at the Lu residence anymore. However, they have retained essential staff to maintain the house's appearance, including a gardener, a butler, and a chef, none of whom were dismissed. Miaomiao also stayed; she is now married and works part-time at a kindergarten near the Lu residence. Whenever she has some free time, she returns to assist Luniang with household matters.

"Luniang, do you have a moment to talk?" Miaomiao asked hesitantly.

Luniang put down her marker pen, "Yes, what happened?"

Miaomiao replied, "Someone came looking for you. They claimed to be... the director of the orphanage where Mr. Qin used to stay."

Lu Zhihong is now in Haicheng and has completely severed ties with this place, making him unreachable. Currently, the only person in the Lu family with whom one can communicate is Luniang. Miaomiao initially planned to ignore the matter, but considering its connection to Qinsi, she decided to call Luniang for her decision.

Luniang fell silent, "Did he mention what it was about?"

Miaomiao responded, "No, he just asked for Mr. Lu Zhihong."

Luniang, "..."

"Miaomiao, could you give me his contact details, please?"

It took Luniang over an hour, almost two, to travel from Anda to the place named Youmiao Welfare Institute.

The director, named Gu Shuangqing, is almost sixty this year and dresses in a very refined and sophisticated manner.

However, the orphanage grounds were small, with the main gate losing its paint, presenting a premonition of impending decline to any outsider viewing it.

Inside, most structures were low flat houses, sheltering a sparse group of children, some as old as ten and others as young as four or five.

"The orphanage is currently facing a shortage of funds," said Gu Shuangqing, "There are many children here that no one wishes to adopt. I, running a small private institute, can't afford to support them all. Therefore, I wanted to see if you would be willing to sponsor us once again."

Most children appeared timid and pallid, hesitant to approach or speak to the unfamiliar lady who had arrived. It was evident from their attire that they were not well-provided for. Many of the younger children were wearing hand-me-downs from the older kids, with sleeves covering their hands, noses dripping.

"Here, let me wipe it for you," Luniang said softly, gently wiping the nose of a little boy who had stumbled in front of her.

She had a tender heart and couldn't bear to witness such scenes; it distressed her deeply.

Qinsi had briefly mentioned to her once before that he disliked children because they reminded him of his memories from his time at the orphanage.

Gu Shuangqing mentioned, "Qinsi used to stay in this room."

It was a small and dilapidated room, with peeling walls and lacking both heating and air conditioning. Several beds were lined up side by side, giving a desolate vibe.

"These are the books he read as a child," Gu Shuangqing pointed to the worn textbooks on the shelf, "He was a very studious child from a young age."

He taught himself to read using those textbooks, as if trying hard to grasp the last straw to take control of his fate.

"Over the years, we have always had a vivid impression of him. He was particularly bright, albeit stubborn, introverted, and unsociable," Gu Shuangqing remarked.

Therefore, when the Lu family came looking to adopt a child, a boy who was healthy and intelligent, they naturally brought Qinsi to them without hesitation.

Qin Si wasn't very willing.

At that time, he mentioned to Gu Shuangqing that he didn't want to be adopted again. When he grew up a bit more, he would go out to live independently, and he would repay the orphanage for the upbringing expenses later.

Gu Shuangqing, of course, didn't take these words from a child seriously.

They feared that he would be stubborn in front of Mr. Lu, the prospective adoptive parent, so they starved him for four days and beat him before taking him to meet Lu Zhichong.

Gu Shuangqing had already shown Lu Zhichong the exam papers that the boy had completed through self-study, remarking on his photographic memory and precocious nature, suggesting that he would be very useful as a helping hand in the family after a few years of nurturing.

Gu Shuangqing still remembers the humiliated and fierce look in the boy's eyes at that time.

In fact, healthy boys like him would certainly have been willing adopters, but his stubborn and proud temperament, resembling an untamed young wolf, deterred many who preferred someone more amiable and familial.

Lu Zhichong was drawn to his intelligence, while others were attracted by his good looks.

The first time Qin Si was adopted was a year before Lu Zhichong came. For some mysterious reason, he ran back to the orphanage and secluded himself in his room for half a month, aggressively biting or kicking anyone who approached him, like a wary little beast.

The previous adopter came back on their own, hastily terminating the adoption relationship without giving any explanation.

When Qin Si returned here, his personality became even more reclusive and eccentric, scaring away anyone who later wanted to adopt him.

At that time, Gu Shuangqing found this to be quite a headache.

In this kind of orphanage, there aren't any meticulous educational methods; Gu Shuangqing's method of dealing with disobedient children was simply to beat them. However, that child was too stubborn, refusing to submit no matter how much he was beaten.

Gu Shuangqing also didn't dare to use too much force.

Hence, when speaking to Lu Zhichong, he was quite eloquent, fervently hoping that Lu would take Qin Si away soon.

At that time, Lu Zhichong seemed quite satisfied. Of course, he had absolutely no psychological burden; the Lu family had enough money to raise another child, thinking that if it worked out, it worked out, if not, then so be it. Therefore, he donated a sum of money to the orphanage, instructing them to erase Qin Si's records to prevent his biological parents from coming to find him.

Lu Nian remained silent all the way.

She recalled many, many things.

In the original story, if she hadn't intervened, Qin Si would have suffered even more miserable abuse in the Lu family later on.

Remembering his fate in the previous life and looking at the current state of the orphanage, her nose suddenly felt sour.

"Has any relative come to look for him?" Lu Nian asked.

"We don't know who his parents are," Gu Shuangqing shook his head, "Over these years, no one has come looking for him."

"Back then, on a rainy night, it was pitch-black outside, nothing was visible," the director said, "He was only a few months old, with a note in his swaddle."

They speculated later that he might be the illegitimate child of someone from a prominent family.

"Is that piece of paper still there?"

"It was thrown away a long time ago," the director said, "It was soaked by the rain at that time; we could only make out that the child's surname was Qin, and we arbitrarily gave him a first name."

Initially the name was Si, being the fourth child born that month, but feeling that it was too perfunctory, they randomly changed it to a homophonic word.

No one ever loved him.

Lu Nian suddenly remembered her past life, where her memories had entirely blurred. She couldn't remember her parents' faces, but she knew hers was a loving home, where both her parents cherished her greatly.

Therefore, at the time of her untimely death, her only sorrow was knowing how heartbroken her parents would be.

"Mr. Lu isn't in Ancheng anymore?" Gu Shuangqing was quite disappointed, hastily inquiring further, "What about Qin Si? Where is he now, and what job is he doing?"

"You don't need to look for him anymore," Lu Nian said softly, "He is doing very well."

She received a fresh payment for her manuscript, leaving her account quite flush recently.

“Allocate this amount under Qin Si's name,” she instructed, casting a glance at the child outside.

“Mr. Gu, I will be conducting regular checks,” she stated, “I hope you can ensure that every penny is spent on the child.”

By the time she returned home, Qin Si had already arrived as well.

Normally, he would return home a bit earlier than her each time.

Silently waiting for her in the living room, he never revealed his emotions, never admitting that he was waiting for her.

This time, however,

Lu Nian suddenly threw herself into his arms, feeling an inexplicable sense of attachment, as if they had been separated for a long, long time.

Just holding him like this and inhaling his scent, she found herself filled with tenderness, vowing to treat him even better and love him more in the future.

The man's fingers stiffened momentarily, unsure why she was so affectionate and proactive today, but shortly after, he reciprocated by embracing her slender waist.

Though unspoken, he always cherished these intimate moments with her.

“Back so early today?” Lu Nian asked, her hand gently caressing his black hair.

He responded, “There's less to deal with at the beginning of the month, so it's easier to manage.”

After dinner, they both took a bath and settled down in the study, where,

Lu Nian nestled in his arms and suddenly remarked, “Do you remember, I mentioned giving you a gift last month?”

Of course, he remembered, “Mhm.”

“It's time to give it to you now,” she said.

Lu Nian got off him, slipped into her slippers, and scampered into the other room. Shortly after, she returned with an art album in hand.

It was a compilation of some of the original drafts from her "Black and White" series.

Respecting Lu Nian's privacy, he had never investigated what she had been drawing, and Lu Nian had never shown him before.

His long, clean fingers paused on the cover, “May I?”

“It's a gift for you,” Lu Nian confirmed, “Of course you can.”

Upon flipping to the first page, his fingers froze.

Across the expanse of time,

He was confronted with a scene from years ago, depicting a black-haired youth standing against the sunset on the rooftop, around sixteen or seventeen, tall and lean.

He recognized at a glance, the young man was wearing the uniform of Ancheng Secondary School, and the location was the rooftop of their school, a perfect replica of the real place and scene in composition and detail.

Even his physique and height were nearly identical to when he was seventeen.

Lu Nian rested her head on his shoulder and smiled, "What do you think? Quite similar, isn't it?"

He wasn't sure when she drew this, suspecting that perhaps her memory had beautified it. He pursed his lips, "I wasn't this handsome."

"Yes, you were," Lu Nian insisted.

She still remembers his appearance when he was sixteen or seventeen - an exceptionally handsome and aloof young man, resembling the cold bamboo and snow cedar in the wind.

"As I've said, I liked how you looked back then, so of course, I remember clearly," Lu Nian remarked.

He was still unaccustomed to her expressing her affection so openly, feeling his face grow hot, he remained silent.

As he flipped to the next sketch in the series, his hand froze completely.

It was him again, but without her, from that time at the Nan Qiao Inn. The vibrant red mole on his collarbone was particularly prominent, highlighted by her in the drawing. Although only half of his face was visible, the emotions captured were especially vivid, particularly the blush in the corner of his eyes and the hint of red on his fair skin, which were accentuated by the colors.

He felt a peculiar sense of embarrassment seeing himself depicted in this manner.

"You looked particularly handsome at that moment," Lu Nian leaned in to say, "I drew it the night we returned."

The sketches depicted their intimate moments, and since those were rare, each one left a deep impression on him. Most of them featured only him, clearly seen from Lu Nian's perspective.

Lu Nian joined him in revisiting the entire series of drawings, showcasing her recent artistic achievements.

"I really did a pretty good job, didn't I?" Lu Nian said with a touch of pride.

Both the composition and coloring were splendid. Despite not revealing much, the posture and expressions, the undulating throat, the sweat on the collarbone, and the tightly pressed thin lips - every detail exuded a subtle sensuality.

"Do you like it?" she asked.

His throat bobbed as he contemplated this heartfelt gift from her, clearly a labor of love and effort. With downcast eyelashes, he whispered, "I do."

Lu Nian beamed happily, "Right? I told you, it's a great piece."

"I really want to share it with everyone; I bet it would receive lots of likes."

Qin Si, "..."

Seeing his reaction, Lu Nian burst into a soft laugh, her eyes curving into crescents, "I'm just teasing you, of course."

"You didn't take it seriously, did you? Hahaha." She couldn't help but laugh out loud, finding him utterly adorable.

The man fell silent before slowly rising to his feet.

Preparing to leave with a detached demeanor.

Lu Nian attempted to hold him back, and he ceased his departure. Yet, he stood there, not uttering a word, his profile exhibiting both coldness and arrogance.

It seems a bit disastrous; did she tease too much?

Had she angered him?

Lu Nian embraced his waist, her breath sweet and tender, "Don't be upset, how could I bear to share it with others?"

He pursed his lips, ultimately unable to bring himself to shrug her off.

She added, "You are my man, meant for my eyes only."

That remark left him utterly defenseless, his face turning embarrassingly red.

"About that thing you promised me..." she suddenly mentioned.

The cell phone on the table abruptly started ringing.

Once, then again, as if determined not to stop until it interrupted them.

It was a call from Fang Deng, “Boss, are you free?”

After a moment, a detached male voice resonated from the other end, tinged with a faint hoarseness, “What is it?”

"Zhao Tingyuan and his people have made a move, indeed sending individuals to Haicheng. Our informants monitoring Lu Zhihong reported everything as normal. What should we do next?”

"We are downstairs," Fang Deng said, "Do we discuss this at your place or head to the office?"

"…The office," he replied, "Wait for me downstairs."

"Heh heh, actually, I'm already at your door," Fang Deng scratched his messy hair sheepishly, adding, "I was too anxious and before I knew it, I found myself at your doorstep."

As the door opened, the man appeared visibly displeased, with a hint of just-awoken languor about him. Two buttons on his shirt were undone, his black hair slightly disheveled, and his gaze carried a brooding darkness.

Fang Deng, "..."

Did I interrupt something?

He buttoned up, asking coldly, "Do you wish to remain at my residence?"

At that moment, the bedroom door swung open and Lu Nian peeked her head out, asking, "Who is it?"

With her disheveled black hair and a glimpse of her slender ankle visible beneath her skirt, she noticed Fang Deng, "Brother Fang?"

"Good evening, junior sister," Fang Deng greeted her warmly.

Seeing Lu Nian in this state, he didn't disturb her further?

Qin Si seemed reluctant to have Fang Deng stay any longer. He closed the door and told Lu Nian, "I'll be back at ten."

Lu Nian nodded, understanding that when he said ten, he meant precisely ten.

Ming Hong has been closely monitoring Lu Zhihong's movements, and it's pretty certain that he has decided to stay put for the time being.

He briefly shared the recent developments of the Zhao family with Qin Si.

"The crux of the matter still lies with Lu Zhihong."

Qin Si instructed, "Keep a close eye on him."

After all, he is Lu Nian's father; he didn't want Su Qingyou and the others to make any real moves against him.

"When Zhao Yayuan comes, direct him to meet with Lu Zhihong," Qin Si said, "tell him there's no need to come looking for us anymore."

He asked Fang Deng, "Do you have Qiu Li's contact information?"

Fang Deng nodded hastily in agreement.

At that time, the fact that he had secretly helped Zhao Yayuan escape from the Zhao family, even though arranged privately by Lu Nian, couldn't have escaped Qin Si's watchful eyes. It was just that he chose not to mention it, feigning ignorance.

As for the matters of the Zhao family, let them resolve it themselves.

Qin Si had no interest whatsoever in others' family disputes or power struggles.

To put it bluntly, whether Zhao Tingyuan or Zhao Yayuan ascended to power, it would have no bearing on him.

Moreover, aside from some minor moves initiated by Lu Zhihong, neither Su Qingyou nor Zhao Tingyuan had ever provoked him; it was Zhao Yayuan who harbored clear hostility towards him.

It was all for the sake of Lu Nian.

He would act according to her preferences.

After Qin Si left.

The room seemed to have emptied by more than half.

Lu Nian, now utterly bored, truly experienced loneliness for the first time.

Previously, as long as she was at home, Qin Si would mostly stay quietly by her side, accompanying her. She had just prepared to press him further on the matter they had discussed on that rainy night when, unexpectedly, Fang Deng had called him away just like that.

Lu Nian was truly bored.

Consequently, she pulled out an old draft from a folder, refined it a bit, and sent it out.

It was an illustration of Hei's grown-up appearance after the reboot of the "Black and White" series.

Soon, responses began pouring in.

"Ahhhh, I'm here to see the handsome guy!"

"Can the author please update a bit more? I'm dying to see what Hei looks like all grown up, wuwuwu."

"I'm totally infatuated with this!"

"Is the madam planning this for the upcoming autograph session? I heard someone saying you're going to host a signing event, is it true?"

"@WideNoodles, of course it's true! They're already heating up the promotion, I have bought my flight tickets, can't wait to grab an autograph card personally illustrated by the author at the event."

The signing event is scheduled for next month.

Browsing the internet out of boredom, Lu Nian's mind suddenly wandered far away. She pondered, once everything was settled and they were married, how should they conduct the wedding, where should they go for their honeymoon, would he be unwilling to venture out, preferring to stay at home?

She also wondered about how she should address him once they were married.

Given his thin skin, would he continue to call her Lu Nian?

When Qin Si returned.

Lu Nian had slumped on the sofa, nearly falling asleep.

In a drowsy state, she said, "You lied."

"You promised to be back by ten," she glanced at the time, "it's already eleven now."

"Traffic jam," he replied, "I'm a bit late."

"Hmm," Lu Nian responded listlessly.

She seemed somewhat dizzy from sleeping on the sofa, looking quite languid.

He couldn't resist; with a slight force, he scooped her up in his arms, whispering, "It won't happen again."

She was bothered about something else, "You promised to be my model," Lu Nian nestled in his arms, "interrupted by Fang Deng again, now pretending as if you never said it, thinking of backing out? How many times have you gone back on your word?"

This was something Qin Si had always been reluctant about.

She had been pestering him for a long time. That night, she finally secured a promise, but it had yet to be fulfilled.

He, "..."

Knew that he was in the wrong.

"It's very late," he murmured, not meeting her gaze, "You should go to sleep."

Seeing him like this, Lu Nian's sleepiness vanished in an instant. She sprang up from the sofa, her eyes sparkling, "So, you are really agreeing to it, aren't you? I'm not sleepy at all, let's do it now, I'm ready!"

Qin Si, "..."

In the bedroom.

She slowly undid his tie, a gift from her, a light grey tie with diagonal stripes. Following this, the buttons of his black shirt were unfastened one by one, revealing the skin underneath, pale and smooth as jade, a distinct collarbone, and a charming crimson mole.

Like a gift she had coveted for a long time and was treating with utmost care, she unwrapped it slowly. Her snowy fingertips grazed his skin occasionally, promptly igniting a small shiver that was hard to endure.

Perhaps due to childhood malnourishment, he always maintained a lean and tall figure, with a slim waist and long legs, appearing slender in clothing. But now, as he undressed, the light revealed that constant exercise had blessed him with a layer of slender, graceful muscles atop his bones.

A sight perfectly aligned with her aesthetic appreciation.

Lu Nian admired her man's handsome features.

Lu Nian, "...I told you not to move."

He turned his face away, avoiding her gaze, his face and ears tinged red, "I didn't."

"That means not moving at all," she said with a naughty smile, revealing a small dimple, "otherwise, it will be difficult for me to draw."

The tip of her brush gently brushed over his collarbone as she said with a smile, "Let me finish the drawing first."

Then, she would pamper him.

His fair skin still carried a flush, a testament to her playful teasing.

If such days continued, he feared he might go mad from the tantalizing partial satisfaction, which seemed even more unbearable compared to when he had never experienced such pleasures.

"In the autumn," Lu Nian said, "once my signing event is over, we can proceed at any time."

By then, the full extent of her gift to him would be completely unveiled.

Now both of them were technically single, with mutual affection and no obstacles left in their way, they could marry whenever they wished.

Was this a yes?

He was somewhat surprised, his mind momentarily failing to process the situation.

"Come on, say you like me," Lu Nian teased, propping up her white little feet and poking fun at him.

He gently touched her lips to halt her playful antics, pulling her into his embrace.

As the two were intimately together, he rested his chin on her shoulder, his eyes drooping. Having just been intimate, a rare hint of satisfaction and mild laziness adorned his refined features, willingly showing an active posture to be close to her.

Was it so hard to utter a word of affection?

Lu Nian mumbled, aiming a kick at him with her foot, which he caught deftly.

"...I love you, only you," he uttered, his voice deep and slightly hoarse, spoken softly and swiftly, almost like a whisper, fleeting past her.

"Say it again!" Lu Nian exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

Yet, he remained silent, refusing to repeat the words.

Normally, he would comply with her desires silently, but when it comes to uttering those words of affection, she'd consider herself lucky to hear them once in ten tries.

She huffed in mild annoyance, grinding her teeth before suddenly breaking into a smile.

Her aura had always been pure, embodying his favorite version of her with a blend of youthful innocence and a touch of naïvety. At this moment, however, her fair face harbored a hint of delightful mischief that was hard to articulate.

Very well.

In the future, when they are married, he knows she would have at least a hundred and eighty ways to coax him into tenderly professing his love, his desire, and all the sweet nothings she yearned to hear until she was thoroughly satisfied.

The author has something to say:

Nian Nian: (rubbing hands together) Later on, I plan to draw even more risqué sketches of you. Would you like that?

Si Si: ...

She went out of her way to poke at her man's shy spots, time and time again.